It is quite hard for those receiving federal funding to find Medicaid doctors, whether a specialist or a general practitioner, willing to accept this kind of insurance due to payments. Many doctors find the payments offered by the government much lower and the paperwork involved an additional cost to the doctors, thereby forcing them out of the system. Not to mention that the government has a practice of reducing the reimbursement instead of increasing them, as well as failing to cover for the actual cost involved in giving the services. It is a notable phenomenon that doctors are running from the Medicaid system and even those that do take any patients take only a few, making it very difficult for one to find a doctor. Indeed it is not impossible but it definitely takes a lot of time, patience and effort to get Medicaid doctors.

Tips on How to find a Medicaid doctor

With many doctors refusing to take Medicaid patients, it is good that you keep in mind that it could be difficult to get a Medicaid doctor and though you may find a clinic that accepts Medicaid, do not rush to make appointments since they may not easily take you in, leaving you with only one option- the emergency room. That is the only circumstance that could guarantee you attention.

It is advisable that you start by searching for Medicaid providers from your department of local health, in order to get more information. You could also choose to go through online directories as they contain a few Medicare and Medicaid doctors and though it could be very difficult to secure yourself an appointment, they may be beneficial in terms of providing you with relevant information about various available Medicaid doctors. You can take advantage of this opportunity and find out all you can from these doctors as they are in a good position to offer you reliable information on the matter.

All you need to do is to visit the Medicaid website, take the provided address and search it, making sure that you all relevant information such as your address so as to fill in if need be. List down all the available providers, narrowing down your list to only what is most appropriate for you. Take down all the numbers provided and call, making inquiries as to whether they could accept Medicaid at that time, if not, do not give up simply call on a later day.

Due to the fact that Medicaid pays lower than private providers, many doctors usually limit their number of intakes, but there are specific times throughout the year when some Medicaid doctors accept Medicaid patients. It is therefore advisable that you try again later you never know, you might find one who is willing to accept at that time.

Private insurers tend to be more interested in having their HMO doctors going for government covered patients. Not to mention Prepaid Health Plans that are operated in hospitals accept Medicaid patients, so this could be an area that you could also check.

It is a good thing to qualify for Medicaid. Now the most difficult and important part is finding doctors who accept Medicaid. It is important to know that most doctors are not willing to accept Medicaid patients, and this has made it quite difficult for Medicaid holders to find a doctor willing to provide medical services to them. This is so due to the fact that the government offers very low payments, making it unprofitable for doctors. It is, however, not completely impossible since while there are many doctors who are not willing to accept the federal sponsored program, and there are still a few doctors who are willing to accept Medicaid holders.

It is notable that some Medicaid doctors only accept this state funded health program during certain times of the year. This is so due to the low compensation offered by the government that makes them become reluctant to take in any new Medicaid holders. It is only advisable that a Medicaid holder looks in all directions from church, clubs and in the office to try and find out if they can find any doctors who accept Medicaid. This requires a lot of patience, time and effort on your part.

You could also acquire a list of medical practitioners who take Medicaid holders from the Department of Health and Human Resources. Use this list to inquire whether the doctors listed are willing to accept a Medicaid patient, and if not, move to the next one and do the same.

Another place to search for doctors who accept Medicaid is by using internet search engines. You can visit the US website for health and human resources and search for Medicaid providers, and click on providers. From there, follow the instructions, and have your personal information at hand as it may be required. There are two categories with which to go by and these are the participating and the non- participating. With non- participating, the doctor receives a small compensation from the Medicare program, and then the patient covers for most of the bill. Once you find a list of doctors who accept Medicaid, list them down and then narrow your list to your preferred option like general practitioner or specialist. Write down their numbers and call them. If they are not available at the moment, do not give up but be patient and try another day. This is because there are some times during the year that they are available and this could definitely be the time.

If you already have a doctor, then it is advisable to check if they accept Medicaid. It may be possible that they offer Medicaid services, or they may be willing to help you find a doctor who accepts Medicaid. You could also call up the doctors you know in your locality and ask them if they accept Medicaid. You could be surprised to find out that they do, and if they are not willing to take up new patients, they could advise or help you in one way or another.

Medicaid is a state and federal funded program that offers assistance for medical cover to low income families and individuals. Initially, the program benefited only low income families, but due to the change in Medicaid requirements as well as regulations in different states, Medicaid now benefits children in low income families, the elderly as well as the disabled. Individual states are responsible for the establishment of eligibility requirements, laying down the type, cost, duration and range of services provided in respective states, setting the rates of payment for services provided and the management of the program in respective states.

Once you qualify for Medicaid, to apply for Medicaid online is easy since you do not need to drive to the department responsible for Medicaid provision. All you need is a computer and access to the internet.

• Before you can apply for Medicaid online, you need to first know if you qualify for one. It is helpful to understand that Medicaid is a state managed program and so the requirements for eligibility and application procedures may vary from state to state. This therefore means that you should find out the requirements to qualify for Medicaid in your state. Basically, the persons eligible for Medicaid are:

Those that come from a family that earns a low income.

The aged, disabled or blind.

Infants whose mothers are entitled to Medicaid, at least throughout the baby’s first year

Children below 6 years

Women who are pregnant and earn an income that is below 133% FPL

Foster care beneficiaries

Certain groups of people such as those who lose receive social security income or any other supplementary income

• When wishing to apply for Medicaid online, remember to carry proof of your income with you as you will need to mail it to the respective department, and then wait for them to mail your ID card, which is what you will be required to provide in hospitals and other health facilities. To get more information on the application requirements, visit the government Housing and Health Services website and read through it. Using the internet search engines, type in the keywords Medicaid or Medicaid Application. If you need to search by state, then include your state in the keywords and search. Out of the list of Medicaid sites that appear, chose the one that seems most applicable for your medical condition. It is advisable to first fill out the free online quotes, listing down all available companies, and going through them one at a time. Once you have filled out the free quotes, it is good that you be patient and wait for a call or mail from the company.

• Fill out each required detail and once you complete filling this in, send it to the respective address.

Online application is quite easy and fast since it is a step by step application, and contains instructions on how to go about it. If you follow the instructions, you will successfully fill out and submit your application.

Medicaid is a state and federal government medical program that is designed to benefit families and individuals who have low incomes and fewer resources than most. Funded by both respective states and the federal government as well, this program serves U.S. citizens as well as alien residents who earn low income, have certain disabilities and the vulnerable persons as the basic Medicaid eligibility provision.

The federal government supervises the running of the program, but under certain broad provisions and restrictions, every state:

• Establishes up with its own kind, cost, time frame, and way of providing Medicaid services
• Sets up its own Medicaid eligibility requirements
• Decides its own payment rates for services
• Manages its medical program

The federal government has broad restrictions and requirements that must be applied by individual states when establishing Medicaid programs in order for them to get federal funding. Services provided by Medicaid are:

Additional services provided by states and are federal funded include:

• Clinic services
• Intermediate services for the mentally handicapped
• Drugs under prescription
• Nursing services for children under 21 years.
• Diagnostic services
• Community based care for specific persons

Each individual state sets its own Medicaid eligibility criteria. The basic requirement for Medicaid eligibility is low income together with other requirements that are based on disability, pregnancy, age, citizenship and assets count. For every state to receive funding, it is required to make Medicaid provision available for vulnerable persons under a certain categories of vulnerable persons. For instance those who do not receive cash payments and those who get maintenance incomes.

Other such categories that are considered as needy and eligible are:

• Aid for Families with Dependent Children program beneficiaries
• Under 6 years children in homes with an income below 133% of (FPL)
• Pregnant mothers with an income that is below 133% as per the FPL
• Beneficiaries of foster care program falling under the Social Security Act part IV
• Individuals who cannot get cash assistance due to low income
• Specific Medicaid beneficiaries

The Medicaid program pays affiliate doctors and health practitioners for services rendered. Every state is required to make payments on a fee-for-service basis or through organizations such as (HMOs). The state is then compensated a share of the expenses incurred by the Federal government. These medical funds are provided on the basis of the state’s income level for the year. This basically means that richer states get a relatively lower share than poorer states, though the law provides that FMAP be between 50 and 83%.

A beneficiary who meets all Medicaid eligibility requirements may find it very difficult to get a Medicaid doctor, as most doctors do not accept new federally-funded beneficiaries. It is advisable that you visit the US Health and Human Department to obtain a list of Medicaid doctors.